I have a question for you today. I have been thinking about my Portuguese Whitework book and how I would like to order the contents. Normally I have introductory stuff including a bit of history, then how to do it all (step-by-step stitch instructions and technique instructions), then projects that can be made.
I’ve been working on the step-by-step pages over the past few weeks, and while they’re full of valuable information that you’re really going to need to use the book, they look a bit repetitive in terms of the content they are presenting. Its all really important, but unless you need that particular stitch or technique right then and there, its not going to be a particularly thrilling section to thumb through.
So I have been wondering about putting the projects section *before* the step-by-steps. After all, the projects in this book are what’s going to get people in, because (she says modestly) they’re gorgeous!
Imagine you’ve picked up the book in your hands in a bookshop. You’ve heard nothing of it before. As you flick through, you see page after page of beautiful needlework that inspires you and make you think “I have to buy this book, because I want to make that, that, that and that.” And then you come to the step-by-step pages with all the stitches and techniques that you’ll need to make them. You can see that section is very thorough, and full of really good information, but you’ve already decided to buy the book on the strength of the projects.
Does this sound like a likely scenario to you? Would you prefer to see projects first, or step-by-steps first? Thanks in anticipation of your feedback and suggestions!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I would be more likely to buy the book because of the projects in it. Having the stitch diagrams after the projects would make purchasing the book all the more inticing – Oh Look it has the stitches in here also!
Great Idea!
Veronica
Thanks Veronica, I really appreciate your feedback. 🙂
If I like the projects I will buy the book, regardless of where they are placed in the book. I would expect the how-to-do the stitches to also be included, but again would not matter to me where they are placed in the book as long as they are there to be referenced.
Thanks Rhea. The projects AND the stitch instructions will definitely all be in there, its just a question of where! 🙂
I think projects first makes more sense. Then the stitches can be referenced as needed, rather than seeming to be something you have to wade through first.
Thank you Amanda. “Wade through” could be an accurate way to describe it!
I think projects first is a good idea. Great looking projects is what usually attracts me to an embroidery book.
Thanks Chris! Great to have your thoughts.
In the Hardanger book you have photos of projects on the inside cover, don’t you? Most books have the How To first, I dont think it would really make a huge difference, as you have a “following” of people who already love your books, as soon as I see once of yours, I will grab it with glee, and will check all the patterns out, and some people flick over books from back to front too!!
hugs
Julie in Australia
Hi Julie, yes I do. It was done that way because its not in colour, and having the photos on the insides of the cover meant they could be in colour. Thanks for your feedback and enthusiasm!
I don’t think it really matters where the how-to is. You might want to put the history first, then the projects, then the how-to.
Yes, that’s the order I had in mind. Thanks!
Hi, Yvette – I like the idea of the projects first, with reference to the stitches / techniques needed, which would follow. Then the how-to section becomes more of a reference area, to be referred to as needed. It would be nice if, when talking technique in the project area, the page numbers for the specific instructions were included.
I think beautiful projects are what catch my eye, but I appreciate good instructional content along with the projects, and I find it irritating when a book’s instructional content is light or lacking.
I know your book will be both – beautiful projects, excellent instruction – no matter where the information is located! 🙂
MC
Thanks Mary! I don’t think you’ll find the instructional content light or lacking in this book. If anything you’ll wonder why I put so many different permutations in. (I’m wondering myself, but I want it to be as thorough as possible.)